Foldable tow-wheel dolly

ABSTRACT

The handles are turned out and the wheels move from the stored position to the wheeling or operating position and vice versa. A bar is depressed which lowers the load plate and the bar also engaged studs on the wheel forks to lock the wheels open and the plate down.

I United States Patent [151 3,659,867 Curry [4 May 2, 1972 5 FQLDABLETOW.WHEEL DOLLY 2,767,996 10/1956 Seyforth ..280/47.26

2,600,611 6/1952 Bevington. [72] Inventor: Walter John Curry, 337Roberta Street, 2,472,407 6/ 1949 David ..280/36 C Winnipeg l5,Manitoba, Canada Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh [22] Fled: 1970Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song [21] Appl 77,099 Att0rneyKent & Ade

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..280/36 C, 280/40,280/47.27 The handles aretmed out and the wheels move from the [51] Int. Cl ..B02l) 11/00 Storedposition to the wheeling or operating i i and i Field Search 36 versa. Abar is depressed which lowers the load plate and the 280/39, 40 bar alsoengaged studs on the wheel forks to lock the wheels open and the platedown. [5 6] memes 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS2,782,047 2/1957 Moran ..280/36 C Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,867

2 Sheets-Shee t 1 IO N INVENTOR W 44 11/2 JMV (hwy ATTORNEY FOLDABLETOW-WHEEL DOLLY This invention relates to new and useful improvements inload carrying dollys which consist of a pair of handles, a frame and aload plate upon which items of merchandise may be engaged, the framethen being tipped rearwardly so that the plate clears the ground so thatthe dolly can be wheeled on the two wheels. Conventionally these arestraight forward in manufacture and do not include means for foldingsame for storage and transportation purposes and it will be appreciatedthat storage and transportation of a relatively large number of thesedollys creates certain difficulties.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a pairof operating members having handles at one end and wheels at the otherend so that when the handles are turned inwardly, the wheels also turninwardly to lie in the same plane as the frame. At the same time meansare provided to pivot the load plate upwardly so that it also lies flushwith the frame thus presenting an extremely compact package for storingand transportation purposes.

A further advantage of the present invention is that means are providedso that when the load plate is lowered by a foot bar, and the wheels areopened to the operating position, means on the foot bar engage withstuds on the wheel assemblies thus locking the plate down and the wheelsopen to make an extremely rigid and strong dolly assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which includes an extension for the frame so thatbulky packages can be carried if desired, this extension telescopicallyengaging the tubes to which the handles are attached and being capableof being extended or retracted within limits and locked in any positionbetween the fully extended and fully retracted positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple in construction,economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes,advantages or novel features as may become apparent from considerationof this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of,and is hereby claimed to reside in, the inventive concept which iscomprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process,construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or newuse of any of the foregoing, of which concept, one or more specificembodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of suchconcept, reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. I is a rear elevation of the device in the operating position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device in the operating position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device in the operating positron.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the device in the folded position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially along the line 5-5ofFlG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the load carrying plate assembly per se.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, referenceshould be made to the accompanying drawings in which 10 illustrates asubstantially rectangular frame including a pair of spaced and parallellongitudinal members 11, preferably made of angle iron, and a pluralityof transverse members 12 extending therebetween as clearly shown.

Mounted adjacent the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal membersare small cylinders or bearing sleeves 13 and engageable within thesesleeves are a pair of operating members 14 one upon each side, saidoperating members preferably being tubular and hollow.

Handles 15 are secured adjacent the upper ends of each of said operatingmember and extend therefrom as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

A wheel fork 16 forming part of a wheel assembly collectively designated17, is secured adjacent the lower end of each operating member andextends therefrom in the same direction as handles 15 also as clearlyshown in FIG. 3. Ground engaging wheels 18 are joumalled for rotationwithin each of the wheel forks and a diagonal brace member 19 extendsfrom the fork upwardly to be secured to the operating members 14intermediate the ends thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the fact that theoperating members 14 are joumalled within the sleeves 13, will permitthe operating members to be rotated by means of handles 15 carrying withthem, the wheel assemblies 17. When in the operating position, thehandles extend substantially at right angles from the frame 10 as do thewheel assemblies 17. However, when the handles are turned inwardly, boththe handles and the wheels lie flush with the frame and substantially inthe same plane thereof as shown in FIG. 4.

A load plate assembly collectively designated 20 includes asubstantially rectangular load carrying plate 21 pivoted by adjacent therear edge 22 thereof to the lower ends of the frame longitudinals l1,braces 23 being welded to these lower ends for the purpose ofstrengthening this particular portion of the assembly.

The plate is capable of being moved from the operating position shown inFIG. 3 wherein it is substantially at right angles to the frame 10, to astored position shown in FIG. 4 under which circumstances it is lyingflush with the frame and substantially in the same plane thereof.

Means are provided to move this foot plate from one position to theother and take the form of a crank arm or rod 24 pivoted betweenbrackets 25 secured towards the lower ends of the longitudinals 11 ofthe frame 10 with the crank portion 26 being substantially centrally ofthe crank rod 24.

A link 27 is pivotally secured by the upper end thereof to the crankportion 26 and by the lower end thereof to a loop 28 secured justinboard of the rear edge of the load plate 21 and centrally thereof.

Further means are provided and take the form of a pair of offstandingsupports 29 one upon each side of the crank portion 26 and being securedto the crank arm or rod 24 as by welding or the like.

A foot rod or bar 30 extends between the outer ends of the offstandingsupports 29 and it should also be observed that notches 31 are formed onthe underside edges of each of the offstanding supports adjacent theouter ends thereof.

A pair of studs 32 extend one each from the wheel forks 16 and thesestuds are engageable by the notches 31 when the wheels and the loadplate are in the operating position shown in FIG. 1, 2 and 3.

A spring clip 33 is secured to a central vertical support member 34 onthe frame 10 and the foot bar or rod 30 engages under this spring clipwhen the device is in the stored position shown in FIG. 4.

An extension member collectively designated 34 consists of a pair ofspaced and parallel rods or members 35 each of which is telescopicallyengageable within the upper ends of the operating members 14 and a crossbar 36 spans the upper ends of these rods 35 as clearly shown. A guideand locking member 37 extends downwardly from the cross bar 36 andengages between a clip 37 and one transverse member 12 of the frame witha screw or locking bolt 38 engageable with the clip 37. By loosening thelocking bolt 38, the extension member may be moved upwardly as shown inphantom in FIG. 1 to any position governed by the length of the rods 35and may be locked in this position to' extend the operatingcharacteristics of the device.

In operation, and assuming that the device is in the folded positionshown in FIG. 4, the handles are grasped and turned outwardly to theposition shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which also moves the wheels outwardlyat the same time.

The foot bar or rod 30 is disengaged from the spring clip 33 by the footof the operator, and is moved downwardly to the position shown in FIGS.1, 2 and 3 which lowers the load plate to the operating position andengages the notches 31 with the studs 32 thus locking the assembly inthe operating position and forming a rigid and firm structure.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventiveconcept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A wheeled dolly comprising in combination a substan tiallyrectangular frame, a pair of operating members, one on each side of saidframe and being pivotally supported on the longitudinal edges of saidframe and having a pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal edges, ahandle on the upper end of each operating member extending at an angletherefrom, a wheel assembly mounted for rotation on the lower end ofeach operating member, said wheel assembly including a wheel fork and awheel joumalled therein, a load plate pivoted by the rear edge thereofto adjacent the lower side of said frame, and means to raise and lowersaid load plate from the operating position to the stored position andvice versa, said means incorporating further means engageable with saidwheel forks when in the operating position to lock said plate in saidoperating position and said wheels also in said operating position, saidhandles being adapted to be turned from an operating position extendingsubstantially at right angles to said frame to a stored positioninwardly of said frame and substantially in the same plane thereof, saidwheels also being turned by said handles from an operating positionsubstantially at right angles to said frame to a stored positioninwardly of said frame and substantially in the same plane thereof, saidmeans to raise and lower said load plate including a crank barjournalled transversely of said frame and a link pivotally connectingbetween said crank bar and adjacent the rear edge of said load plate.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which said further means includesoffset supports on said crank bar, a foot bar extending between saidoffstanding supports in spaced and parallel relationship to said crankbar, means extending from said wheel assemblies and notches on saidoffstanding supports engageable with said last means when said wheelsand said plate are in the operating position, downward movement of saidfoot bar lowering said plate and engaging said notches with said lastmeans.

3. The device according to claim 1, which includes an extension membertelescopically engaging said operating members and capable of beingextended or retracted therefrom to increase or decrease the loadcarrying characteristics of said dolly, and means to lock said extensionmember in any position within limits.

1. A wheeled dolly comprising in combination a substantially rectangularframe, a pair of operating members, one on each side of said frame andbeing pivotally supported on the longitudinal edges of said frame andhaving a pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal edges, a handle on theupper end of each operating member extending at an angle therefrom, awheel assembly mounted for rotation on the lower end of each operatingmember, said wheel assembly including a wheel fork and a wheeljournalled therein, a load plate pivoted by the rear edge thereof toadjacent the lower side of said frame, and means to raise and lower saidload plate from the operating position to the stored position and viceversa, said means incorporating further means engageable with said wheelforks when in the operating position to lock said plate in saidoperating position and said wheels also in said operating position, saidhandles being adapted to be turned from an operating position extendingsubstantially at right angles to said frame to a stored positioninwardly of said frame and substantially in the same plane thereof, saidwheels also being turned by said handles from an operating positionsubstantially at right angles to said frame to a stored positioninwardly of said frame and substantially in the same plane thereof, saidmeans to raise and lower said load plate including a crank barjournalled transversely of said frame and a link pivotally connectingbetween said crank bar and adjacent the rear edge of said load plate. 2.The device according to claim 1, in which said further means includesoffset supports on said crank bar, a foot bar extending between saidoffstanding supports in spaced and parallel relationship to said crankbar, means extending from said wheel assemblies and notches on saidoffstanding supports engageable with said last means when said wheelsand said plate are in the operating position, downward movement of saidfoot bar lowering said plate and engaging said notches with said lastmeans.
 3. The device according to claim 1, which includes an extensionmember telescopically engaging said operating members and capable ofbeing extended or retracted therefrom to increase or decrease the loadcarrying characteristics of said dolly, and means to lock said extensionmember in any position within limits.